At risk of adding more doom and gloom to Richard Fireman’s account of our environment [“A Healthy Future for Sophia,” Jan. 17], I’d like to mention lead as one of those toxic substances still in our lives on a regular basis. But fortunately, lead is also one of those substances about which people in Buncombe and Henderson counties can do something—for free. The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, based out of UNCA, offers free lead testing for lead in paint, soil, water, dust, ceramics, vinyl products, brass items, inexpensive jewelry and a host of other unsuspected household items known to contain this toxic substance.
If you live in a pre-1978 home (the year lead paint was banned from residential use) and are pregnant, about to become pregnant, or have children living with you who are ages 6 or less, the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program can come to your home, at no cost, to look for lead hazards and suggest solution options, many of which are low cost. And a simple finger-prick blood test for lead, free at our health departments, can give you peace of mind or early warning of the lead level of your child (pregnant women at risk for lead exposure can also get tested for free, but there is a charge for other adults.) A normal level of lead in our bodies (or our pet’s bodies) is zero, but as Richard mentioned in his article, most of us have some lead in our system.
I really don’t disagree with anything Richard wrote, unfortunately. I’d like to give you more optimistic news. But we don’t have to simply accept these risks. There are some toxics, like lead, that we can eliminate from our environment with some education and forethought. Contact the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, 251-6104, leadprevention@yahoo.com, or www.unca.edu/eqi/lpp for more information or to have your home inspected.
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